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THE MAYHEW MANOR 



THE MAYHEW MANOR 

OF TISBURY 



ADDRESS PREPARED FOR 
THE NEW YORK BRANCH 

OF 

THE ORDER OF COLONIAL LORDS OF 
MANORS IN AMERICA 



BY 

IDA M. WIGHTMAN 

UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF 

COLONEL CHARLES EDWARD BANKS 

Author of the History of Martha's Vineyard, &c 



BALTIMORE 
1921 



£6 



■ 




WILLIAM ALEXANDER, EARL OF STERLING FROM WHOM THOMAS MAVHIAV 
MADE HIS FIRST PURCHASE. BORN 1567. DIED 1641. 



THE MAYHEW MANOR OF 
TISBURY* 

It is a fact unknown in history, except perhaps to a few 
local antiquarians, that the island of Martha's Vineyard, 
located just south of Cape Cod and now a part of the Common- 
wealth of Massachusetts, was at one time under the jurisdiction 
of the Province of New York, and constituted one of its first 
three county governments. Martha's Vineyard, together with 
the Elizabeth Islands, Nantucket, and No Man's Land, w r as 
incorporated November 1, 1683, by the Provincial Assembly 
of New York, as Duke's County, coincident with the creation 
of King's County (now Brooklyn), and Queen's County (Long 
Island), but for twenty years before that date it had been an 
integral part of the Province of New York. 

In order to understand the political relationship of these 
far-flung isles of the southeastern New England coast to the 
New York government, it is necessary to hark back to the 
early settlement of this country when King James established 
the Council for New England, which gave this territory to 
certain of the nobility, and other prominent Englishmen 
interested in the colonization of the New World. This Council 
for New England had regulated the affairs of this territory 
as best it could by long distance orders in Council granting 
Patent rights to enterprising Englishmen who were ready to 
exploit its unknown riches for the glorification of the Crown 
of England, and incidentally, for their own profit. For thirty 
years this corporate body had been in active operation until, 
in 1635, it found that the maximum of its powers and usefulness 
had been reached and in their wisdom the remaining active 
members deemed it wise to divide the territory among them- 
selves as best they could, with their limited knowledge of the 
geography and nomenclature of it, and surrender their Charter 
to the Crown. 

This division, which was effected on February 3, 1634-5, 
and confirmed three years later, is of especial interest to this 
study because two of the active members, Sir Ferdinando 
Gorges, and William Alexander, Earl of Stirling, "drew" certain 

* The following are also the various ways of spelling this name, viz.: 
Tissebury, Tisselbury, Tvsbery, Tissbury and Tisburie. (Vol. II, page 16 
of the Annals of West Tisbury, History of Martha's Vineyard, by Charles 
Edward Banks.) 



islands on the southeastern coast of New England, as their 
shares in this territorial lottery, and these later resulted in 
conflicting claims. 

Sir Ferdinando Gorges was the Lord Proprietor of the Prov- 
ince of Maine, and in addition was awarded that region from 
the Piscataqua to the Sagadahoc as specified in the recorcL of 
the division by the Council; 1 "and hereunto is to be added the 
North halfe of the Isles of Shoals & also the Isles of Capawock, 
Nautican &c near unto Cape Codd." Lord Stirling was 
granted certain territory adjacent to that of Gorges in Maine, 
and, as decreed by the Council. 2 "hereunto is to belong the 
Island called Mattawack or the Long Island." 

Four years later, on April 3rd, 1639, King Charles granted a 
charter to Sir Ferdinando Gorges conferring extraordinary 
prerogatives in government of this territory in Maine, and by 
its terms "the Isles of Capawock and Nautican, near unto 
Cape Cod" were specifically included. This charter, there- 
fore, gave to Gorges undoubted sovereign rights over Martha's 
Vineyard which was then erroneously called by the Indian 
name of Capawock, a name properly belonging only to a small 
portion of the island. 

Neither Lord Stirling nor Sir Ferdinando Gorges had come 
in person to this new world to learn by personal observation 
the extent of the territory comprised in their Patents, though 
both were represented here by agents; the former by Mr. 
James Forrett, and the latter by Mr. Richard Vines who held 
the title of Steward-General of the Province of Maine, he 
having been one of the pioneer settlers of that Province. 

Forrett doubtless resided in New Amsterdam, probably 
because of its proximity to Long Island, the most valuable 
part of Lord Stirling's property, and from his activities it 
appears that he was not modest in his claims of proprietor- 
ship on behalf of the Earl of Stirling; Martha's Vineyard, 
Nantucket and the adjacent islands being claimed by him to be 
a part of his master's holdings. It is not known upon what 
ground he based this claim, but that he maintained it to the 
profit of his master is a matter of record. 

In September, 1641, Forrett journeyed to Boston to com- 
plain to Governor Winthrop about the unwarranted entry of 
some people from Lynn, Massachusetts, upon the lands of 
Lord Stirling on Long Island. Incidentally he went there to 

1 Banks, History of Martha's Vineyard, I, 73. 

2 Records of the Council for New England, 69, 70. 83. 

6 



encourage lawful immigration under proper acknowledgment 
of proprietary rights, and this he succeeded in accomplishing. 
He met while there, possibly by chance, Mr. Thomas Mayhew, 
an early resident of Watertown, who was then deep in the 
maelstrom of financial trouble, and it is presumed laid before 
him the desirability of retrieving his fortunes in a new, un- 
settled region. The advantages of the virgin islands of Nan- 
tucket and Martha's Vineyard which Forrett claimed as part 
of his master's domain, were doubtless represented in glow- 
ing terms by this early prototype of our modern promoter. 
Whether Mayhew had ever seen these islands may be doubted, 
but in despair of mind because it had "pleased God to frown 
upon him in his outward estate," he accepted this opportunity 
of beginning a new career under different conditions, and 
restoring his vanishing fortunes. 

Such may well have been the process by which Mayhew's 
attention was directed to these fertile islands of the sea, which, 
asUnderhill had noted several years before, were "as yet 
uninhabited," and Mayhew, then in his fiftieth year, deter- 
mined to purchase them and start a new home, and possible- 
erect a new colony, for these islands were situated without the 
chartered bounds of the territory of the Company of Massa- 
chusetts Bay. 

"Meanwhile, however, an unexpected development occurred. 
'Mr. Richard Vynes,' wrote Mayhew, 'Steward Gen'll to Sir 
Ferdynando Gorges, heareing of it, Enterupted showing me 
his Master's Pattent and his Power, insomuch that I was 
convinced by him and Thomas Gorges who was then Gover- 
nour of the Province of Maine that (it) was realy Sir Ferdy- 
nandoes Right.' It somewhat arouses our curiosity to know 
how Vines, — living a hundred miles distant, should have 
become aware within a few days of the sale by Forrett to 
Mayhew, unless we infer, as we are justified in doing by the 
light of subsequent events, that Mayhew was not satisfied 
with the title of Lord Stirling, and desiring to satisfy all pos- 
sible claimants and secure deeds from each, asked Vines to 
come to Watertown to effect the transfer of his master's right. 
However, Mayhew says that Vines 'heareing of it, Enterupted,' 
which would indicate that the agent of Gorges acted inde- 
pendently upon learning of the action of Forrett, and Mayhew, 
in order to secure himself, as he says, 'for a some of Money 
did obtaine from said Vynes a Graunt alsoe.' Again he wrote 
on the same topic: 'Meeteing with Mr. Vynes steward general 



to Sir Ferdinando Gorges whom T then had much interest in 
he solemnely p'fesses it was his Masters so whereupon I had 
it graunted by him & did p'cede mostly uppon that graunt, 
Mr. Tho. Gorges then gov'nor (of the Province of Maine) 
approuveing of it.' " 3 

Accordingly Mayhew entered into an agreement with the 
agent of Stirling for the purchase of Nantucket, and on October 
13, 1641, the deed of sale was executed by Forrett which 
granted to Thomas Mayhew, a Watertown merchant, and to 
Thomas Mayhew, Junior, his son, the right "to Plant and 
Inhabit upon Nantucket and two other small Islands adjacent," 
meaning Muskeget and Tuckernuck. 

The price paid for this property, £40, is not stated in this 
document 4 which is given in full : 

''These presents doth witness that I, James Forrett, Gentleman, who 
was sent over into these Parts of America, By the honourable the Lord 
Sterling with a commission for the ordering and Disposing of all the Island 
that Lyeth Between Cape Cod hudsons river and hath better unto con- 
firmed his agency without any considerations, Do hereby Grant unto Thomas 
Mayhew of Watertown, merchant, and to Thomas Mayhew his son, free 
Liberty and full power to them and their associates to Plant and Inhabit 
upon Nantuckett and two other small Islands adjacent, and to enjoy the 
said Islands to them and their heirs & assigns forever, provided that the 
said Thomas Mayhew and Thomas Mayhew his son or either of them or 
their associates Do Render and Pay yearly unto the honourable the Lord 
Sterling, his heirs or assigns such an acknowledgment as shall be thought 
ritt by John Winthrop, Esq, the elder or any two magistrates in Massa- 
chusetts Bay Being chosen for that end and purpose by the honourable 
the Lord Sterling or his Deputy and By the said Thomas Mayhew his son 
or associates: it is agreed that the government that the said Thomas y I ay- 
hew and Thomas Mayhew his son and their associates shall set up shall 
Be such as is now established in the Massachusetts aforesaid, and that the 
said Thomas Mayhew & Thomas Mayhew his son and their associates shall 
have as much privilege touching their planting Inhabiting and enjoying 
of all and every part of the Premises as By the patent is granted to the 
Patent of the Massachusetts aforesaid and their associates. 

In witness hereof I the said James Forrett have hereunto sett my hand 
and seal this 13th day of October, 1641. 

James Forrett. 
Signed Sealed and Delivered in the presence of 

Robert 

Nicholas Davison 5 
Richard Stileman fi 

3 Banks, History of Martha's Vineyard, I, 73. 

4 Edgartown Records, I, 12. 

5 Nicholas Davison was a Charlestown merchant, agent of Matthew 
Cradock, and later a land-owner on the Vineyard, but not a resident. 

6 Richard Stileman was of Cambridge at this date, but later removed 
to Portsmouth. It is probable that this document was executed in Boston. 



''This resulted, doubtless, in a conference between the con- 
flicting interests, and as a consequence further amplification 
of Mayhew's territorial jurisdiction. Forrett added 'Martin's' 
Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands, in a second instrument 
which he drew up, and authorized the grantees to plant upon 
and inhabit those parts" 7 and this document reads as follows: 8 

' Whereas By virtue of a commission from the Lord Sterling, James 
Forrett, Gentleman, hath granted Liberty and full Power unto Thomas 
Mayhew of Watertowh, merchant, and Thomas Mayhew his son. and their 
associates to Plant the Island of Nantucket according to the article In a 
deed to that purpose expressed: Now for as much as the said Island hath 
not Been yett whole surrendered whereby it may appear that Comfortable 
accomodations for themselves and their asscoiates will be found there, this 
therefore shall serve to testifye that I, the said James Forrett. by virtue 
of my said commission, Do hereby grant unto the said Thomas Mayhew 
and Thomas Mayhew his son and their associates, as much to plant upon 
Martins Vinyard and Elizabeth Isles as they have by virtue heretofore of 
the Deed granted unto them for Xantuckett as therein plainly In all con- 
siderations Both on the Right honourable the Lord Sterling's part and on 
the said Thomas Mayhew & Thomas Mayhew his son and their associ- 
ates Doth appear In Witness whereof I, the said James Forrett have here- 
unto sett my hand the 23rd Day of October, Annoque Domini 1641. 

James Forrett. 
Signed and delivered In presence of us 
his 

John X Vahane q 
mark 

Garret Church 10 

"But this was not entirely satisfactory, and so he concluded 
to 'make assurance doubly sure' by securing the rights as well 
from the Gorges interests; and two days later the following 
instrument executed by Vines, authorized the elder Mayhew to 
'plant and inhabit upon the Island Capawok alias Martins 
Vineyard,' " n as set forth in the following copy: 12 

"I, Richard Vines of Saco, Gentleman, Steward General for Sir Ferdi- 
nando Georges, Knight and Lord Proprietor of the Province of Maine and 
the Islands of Cappawok and Xautican, Do by these presents give full 

7 Banks, History of Martha s Vineyard, I, 82, 83. 

8 Edgartown Records, 1,11. 

9 John Vahane (Vaughan) was a resident of Watertown in 1633, and 
bore a not very savory reputation for a number of years. 

10 Garret Church was also of Watertown. From the appearance of these 
two names, it is presumed the document was signed in Mayhew's home 
town. 

11 Banks, History of Martha's Vineyard, I, 83. 

12 Edgartown Records, 1,9. 



power and authority unto Thomas Mayhew, Gentleman, his agents and 
associates to plant and Inhabit upon the Islands Capawok alias Martins 
Vinyard with all privileges and Rights thereunto belonging to enjoy the 
premises to himself heirs and associates forever, yielding and Paying unto 
the said Ferdinando Gorges, his heirs and assigns annually, or two Gentle- 
men Independently By each of them chosen Shall Judge to Be meet by way 
of acknowledgement. 

Given under my hand this 25th Day of October, 1641. 

Richard Vines. 
Witness : 
Thomas Payne 13 
Robert Long 14 

Thus doubly assured of his title to the islands from two 
rival claimants to them, the elder Mayhew, not wishing to 
invite further complications, proceeded to satisfy one more 
possible proprietor — the aboriginal squatters — and shortly 




Na.vi% t-K arkcfii franco 



OUR EARLIEST FERRY 

Representation of Indians crossing the Vineyard Sound in a Canoe made 
by burning out a trunk of a tree. 

after procured from the Indians their "rights" to his newly 
acquired domain. Actual possession of the islands was accom- 
plished the year following. Upon this, the Rev. Experience 
Mayhew, grandson of the elder Thomas, has written as fol- 
lows: "In 1642 he (Thomas Mayhew) sends Mr. Thomas 
Mayhew Junior his only Son, being then a young scholer, 
about 21 years of Age, with some other Persons to the Vine- 
yard, where they settled at the East End, and quickly after 
the Father followed." 

Having thus detailed the acquisition of Martha's Vineyard 
by the ancestral manorial family of Mayhew's, it will next be 

13 There was a Thomas Paine, resident of Salem, another resident of 
Dedham, and a third of Yarmouth. It is not possible to identify this 
witness. It was not Mayhew's step-son as he was only nine years old. 

14 Robert Long was resident of Charlestown. 

10 



of interest to learn the origin and descent of the Lords of 
Tisbury Manor. 15 

"The name of May hew and the Vineyard are almost synony- 
mous, and it will be interesting as well as instructive to learn 
something of the family which exercised such a sway over the 
early destinies of our island. The origin of the name is ex- 
plained satisfactorily by a learned historical scholar of England, 
himself a descendant, and the following extracts are made 
from his account : 

"As an English family name it is most frequently met with in the South 
and West of this island, and few parish registers in the Counties of Here- 
ford, Gloucester, Wilts and Dorset can be opened without presenting us 
with examples. It is spelt in many ways, varying from the extended form 
of Mayhowe to that of Mao, and often, as it will frequently appear, clipped 
down and reduced to May to the loss of Its concluding syllable. 16 One les- 
son is taught by the diversity and variety, viz: — the identity of Mayhew 
and Mayo, and from this consideration a ray of light is thrown upon the 
derivation of the name. An early occurrence of the name, and in its ex- 
tended form, is found in Glover's Roll of Arms, supposed by Sir Harris 
Nicholas to date from between 1245 and 1250. Herbert le Fitz Mayhewe 
is there mentioned as bearing 'party d'azur & de goulz one trois leonseaux 
rampant d'or,' and Woodward in his History of Wales, page 415, narrates 
that account to the old copy of S. Davids Annals. The Welsh slew Sir 
Herbert Fitz-Mahu apparently in 1246, near the castle of Morgan Cam. 
The same Roll of Arms gives the clue to the origin of the name as a Chris- 
tian name; in the case of Mahewe de Lovayne, Mayhew de Columbers and 
Maheu de Redmain. There can be little doubt that it is here a softened 
form of Matthew. Bardsley in his ' English Surnames" mentioned two 
other instances, Adam fil. Maheu, and Mayhew de Basingbourne, from the 
Parliamentary Writs. Lower, (Patronymica Brittannica, 219, 221), takes 
the same view." 

Shakespeare in King Lear, Act III, scene 4 says: 

"The Prince of Darkness is a Gentleman 
Modo he's called and Mahu." 

"The family has its principal habitats in Cornwall, at Lost- 
withiel, Looe, Bray and Morval, to which belonged John 
Mayow, Fellow of All Souls, Oxford, and that Mayow of 
Clevyan, in St. Columb Major, who was hanged on a tavern 

15 Banks, History of Martha's Vineyard, I, 104. 

10 As an example of the loss of the final syllable, the following may be 
noted: Walter Mayo vel Meye admissus in Artibus 26 June 1511, (Gough 
Mss. 7, Bod. Lib!); the will of Robert Mayo of Broughton Gifford 16 
Nov. 1572, in the Perogative Court, though his family name was usually 
written May, as in the Wiltshire visitations; the will of Henry Mayo alias 
May, of Kelhvays, Wilts, 1661. 

11 



sign-post as a rebel against the injunctions of Edward VI, 
concerning religion. Dorsetshire has one family in the Visi- 
tation; Gloucestershire, at Kempley, Tetbury, Charfield; 
Herefordshire, at Tottenham; Northamptonshire, at Holmden, 
in the Visitation of 1619; Norfolk, at Billockby and Clippesby; 
Suffolk at Clopton, Helmington and Bedingfield, and in Wilt- 
shire more than one family of the name are found including 
Mayhew of Dinton in the Visitations of 1565 and 1623, whose 
pedigree is inserted in this article. 17 

"Of noted persons of the name is Richard Mayo, otherwise 
Mayeo, Maiewe, Mayhue, etc., who was born near Hungerford, 
educated at Winchester, became a fellow of the New College 
in 1459; after passing through the lower orders he became 
Chancellor of Oxford, 1503, and Bishop of Hereford in 1504. 
He died in April, 1516. 18 

In the Records of the Commissioners for the United Colonies, 
there appeared a letter, now in the Connecticut Archives, 19 
written by Governor Mayhew, sealed with arms which, upon 
examination, proved to be the arms, with a mullet for differ- 
ence, of the Mayhew family of Dinton, Wiltshire, a county 
family of considerable distinction. 20 

The pedigree of this family follows, with an illustration of 
the Church of St. John the Baptist, where Thomas Mayhew 
was baptized, April 1, 1593. 

"These facts, taken in connection with the bestowal by 
Mayhew of the names of Tisbury and Chilmark on two adjoin- 
ing towns on Martha's Vineyard, (the latter settlement having 
been originally chartered as Tisbury Manor), and the fact 
that Tisbury and Chilmark are adjoining parishes in Wiltshire, 
and separated by a few miles only from Dinton, made it quite 
evident that this locality was the one which should reveal his 
family connection. 

"In April, 1898, the author, 21 during a visit to England, was 
guest by previous appointment with the Vicar of Tisbury, 
the Rev. F. E. Hutchinson, who is of the same stock as our 
family of the New England Hutchinsons. He spent two days 
at the vicarage and had ample time to make a thorough exami- 

17 Hanks, History of Martha's Vineyard, T, 104, 105. 

18 Genealogical Account of the Mayo and Elton Families, by Rev. Canon 
Mayo, vicar of Long Burton, Dorset. London, 1882. 

19 Conn. Col. Records, 1678-1689, pp. 504 506. 

- u Banks: History of Martha's Vineyard, I, 105-106. 
21 Chas. E. Banks, Senior Surgeon, U. S. P. H. S. 

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STONE FONT. CHURCH OF S. JOHN THE BAPTIST. USED AT THE BAPTISM OF 
THOMAS MAYHEW THE ELDER 

(^4 replica of this font, in English Oak, was presented by the family of the author to Grace 

Church, Vineyard Haven, in memory of a deceased relative, several 

years ago, and may be seen in that church) 



15 



nation of the old parish registers of Tisbury, which are extant 
from the year 1563, including the original and a parchment 
copy of almost contemporary date. Below extracts from the 
parish register are given, which include all of the name of 
Mayhew in its several variations, as well as some relating to 
persons connected with the family by marriage mentioned in 
wills, to be hereafter given, during the period necessary for 
our purpose. 22 

Extracts from the Parish Register of Tisbury, Co. Wilts. 

baptisms 
1583 Sept. 13, Henry, son of Maori 

1589 May 1 ; Elizabeth, daughter of Matthew Maho. 
1591 Jan'v 17, John, son of Matthew Mavoo. 

1593 April 1, THOMAS, SON of MATHEW MAHO. 

1595-6 Feb. 8. Jone, daughter of Mat hew Mayhoe. 

1598 Dee. 18, Alice, daughter of Mathew Maiho. 

1599 

1600 Mar. 15, Katherine, daughter of Mathew Maio. 

1602 April 14, Edward, son of Mathew Mayhow. 

MARRIAGES. 

1573 Nov. 24, Myhell May and Jone Vanner. 

1575 April 21, Thomas (Maow?) and Alyce (Waterman?) 

1578 Nov. 23, An Maio and Thomas Turner. 

1579 Aug. 3, An Maio and John Waterman. 

1587 Octo. 2, MATHEW MAOW and ALES BARTER. 

BURIALS. 

1586 July 14, Ales wyffe of Thomas Maow. 

1590 June 1, Thomas Maow. 

Reproduction of entry in Parish Register showing record of baptism 
of Thomas Mayhew. 

"The marriage above indicated by capitals is that of the 
parents of Gov. Thomas Mayhew, and his baptism is likewise 
printed in the same type. Attention need scarcely be drawn 
to the various ways the name is entered in the register. In 
the 22 baptisms given, eight in all, there are seven different 
spellings. This entry of the baptism of Thomas, son of Mathew 
Maho, April 1st, 1593, probably within a few days of his birth, 
is not absolutely conclusive evidence of identity with our 
Thomas, but taken in connection with the facts relating to 
the reappearance on Martha's Vineyard of the names of Tisbury 
Manor (which is situated in the parish of Tisbury, England,) 
and Chilmark the adjoining hamlet, and the name of Matthew, 
which for succeeding generations appeared in the Martha's 
Vineyard family, it becomes one of those cases where an affirma- 
tive conclusion is clearly inferential. 

-Banks: History of Martha's Vineyard,!, 105-108. 

16 



"Corroborative evidence is also available in respect to 
Governor Mayhew's age, which corresponds approximately 
with the record of this baptism. The double dating of that 
period from January 1 to March 25, enters the problem to 
give it some slight complications, but as he was born near the 
dividing line between the new and the old years 1592 and 1593, 
his several statements regarding the great number of years he 
attained (evidently a source of pride to him) lead us readily 
to conclude that with the proneness which he exhibited to 
reiterate his longevity, he unintentionally adopted 1592 as 
his birth year, when it was in reality 1593, and that a further 
source of error lies in the confusion which may result from 
such general statements as that he was eighty-seven years of 
age, or in his 87th yeare half out. The following are all the 
references regarding his age which have been thus far observed, 
and it will be noticed that the first one, before he had grown 
to riper years and indulged the pardonable satisfaction at 
attaining great age, is the only correct one as compared to the 
date of baptism. It bears out the theory that he unconsciously 
overstated his age as he grew older. 

"1. On Sept. 15, 1664, he wrote, T am 71 and 5 monthes at 
present.' 23 This would carry his birth back to about 2-15-1593. 
(Within one month prior to April 15, 1593, which agrees with 
the baptism.) 

"2. On 24 (6), 1678, he wrote, Tt hath pleased God to 
keepe me alyve and verry well, to write thus much in my 87th 
veare hallf out.' 24 This would carry his birth back to about 
12-24-1591. (Feb. 24, 1591-2). 

"3. In his will dated June 16, 1681, he began: "I, Thomas 
Mayhew of Edgartown upon the Vineyard in this ninetieth 
year of my age,' This would carry his birth back to some time 
between June 17, 1591, and June 16, 1592. " 25 

"4. On April 13, 1682, Matthew Mayhew, his grandson, 
announced to Gov. Thomas Hickley of Plymouth the death 
of his grandfather as follows: "It pleased God of his great 
goodness as to continue my honoured grandfather's life to a 
great age (wanting but six days of ninety years), so to give 
the comfort of his life, and to ours as well as his comfort, in 
his sickness (which was six days).' 26 

23 Mass. Hist. Coll., 4th series, vol. 7, p. 40. 

24 Plymouth Colony Records, vol. 10, p. 406. 

25 Banks: Hi story of Martha's Vineyard, I, 108-109. 

26 Mass. Hist. Coll., 4th series, vol. 5, p. 61. 

17 



"Previously to the author's visit to Tisbury a personal search 
of the Wiltshire wills deposited at Somerset House relating to 
the Archdeaconry of Sarum, in which the parishes of Tisbury, 
Chilmark and Dinton are situated, was made. There were 
found, among others of the family, the wills of Matthew May- 
hew, the father of Thomas, and of Agnes Mayhew, an aunt 
of Thomas, in both of which documents his name occurs as a 
beneficiary. The full copy of the will of Matthew is here 
presented:"'- 7 

Principal Registry of Probate (Wiltshire), Archdeaconry of 
Sarum, VIII, 224. 
In the name of God Amen. I Mathew Maihew of Tisbury in the county 
of wilts yeoman being in good health and of perfect memory i thankes bee 
to god for it) doe make constitute and ordeine this my last will and testa- 
ment in manner and form following First I bequeath my soule into the 
handes of Almighty God my maker and redeemer and my body to bee 
buried in the Church or Churchyard of Tisbury aforesaid. Itm I give and 
bequeath to the prish Church of Tisbury iiis vid. Itm I give and bequeath 
to the poore people of the aforesaid Tisbury iis iiiid. Itm I give and 
bequeath to my sonne Thomas Maihew Forty pounds of good and lawfull 
monie of England whereof twenty pounds to bee paid him by my Executor 
wthin one whole yeare after my decease and the other twenty pounds to 
bee paid by my Executor within five years after the payment of the first 
twenty pounds in manner and forme following, viz: fower pounds evy year 
until the sume of twenty pounds bee paid and the five yeares expired. 
Itm I give and bequeath unto my sonne Edward Maihew six and forty 
pounds of good and lawfull monie of England whereof six and twenty to 
bee paid him by my executor within one whole yeare after my decease and 
the other twenty pounds to bee paid unto him by my executor after the 
same manner and at the same times wch are prscribed for the payment of 
the last twenty pounds of my sonne Thomas his portion Itm I give and 
bequeath untonmy daughter Joane Maihewe six and forty pounds of good 
and lawfull monie of England whereof six and twenty pounds to bee paid 
within one whole yeare after my decease and the other twenty pounds to 
bee paid after the same manner and at the same times wch are prescribed 
for the last payment of my sonne Thomas his portion Itm I give and 
bequeath unto my daughter Alice Maihew six and forty pounds of good 
and lawfull monie of England to be paid unto her by my executor after 
such manner and at such times as my daughter Joane Maihewes portion 
is to be paid Itm I give and bequeath unto my daughter Katherine Mai- 
hew six and forty pounds to bee paid unto her by my executor after the 
same manner and at the same times wch are prscribed for the payment 
of my other two daughters portion All the rest of my goods and chattels 
moveable and unmovable I give and bequeath unto my sonne John Mai- 
hew whom I make my whole and sole executor of this my last will and 
testamt Itm I doe constitute and appoint John Bracher of Tisbury 
Edward Bracher of Tisbury Richard Langly of Boreham and John Gilbert 
of Deny Sutton ovrseers of this my last will and testament In witness 

"Banks: History of Martha's Vineyard. I, 109-110-111. 

18 



whereof I have hereunto subscribed my hande the last day of August in 
the year of our Lord 1612 

The Marke of Mathewe Maihewe. 
In the prnce of 

Luke Simpson 

John Gilbert 

John Turner 

John Bracher 
Memorand. That if my sonne Thomas Maihewe Edward Maihewe 
Joane Maihewe Alice Maihewe Katherine Maihewe or any one of them 
doe chaunce to dye before they have receaved theire portions then my will 
is that the portions of the parties deceased shall equally bee divided amongst 
the rest then liveing 
Witnesses hereunto 

Luke Simpson John Gilbert 

John Gilbert 

John Turner 

John Bracher 
Proved 27th June 1614 

_ "The will of Agnes Mayhew of Tisbury, dated Jan. 12, 1606, 
gives to 'Thomas the son of my brother Matthew, five pounds,' 
and it was proved June 24, 1612 (Arch. Sarum, VIII, 168). 

"With respect to the connection of this Tisbury twig with 
the armorial family of Dinton, it is to be observed that Matthew 
described himself as 'yeoman,' which may not disqualify him 
as a cadet scion of the armigerous family, particularly in view 
of the fact that Governor Mayhew, his son, used a seal, which 
he must_ have obtained in England, cut with the arms of the 
Dinton family, and having as a mark of difference the mullet, 
indicating that he was descended from the third son of the 
armorial grantee. 2 * The tabular pedigree which appears here- 
with, showing the Dinton family as given in the Harleian 
manuscripts and in Hoare's Wiltshire, to which have been 
added some facts obtained from wills and other original sources, 
fails to afford us any information concerning the descendants 
of Thomas, the third son of Robert Mayhew, and the author 
strongly suspects that it is to him, whose Christian name 
Governor Mayhew bore, we must look for an extension of the 
pedigree. The laws of primogeniture, which existed at that 
period, and which were so carefully observed by the heralds, 
afforded little consideration for cadet branches of county 
familes, and we are at present reduced to conjecture as to the 
relationship of Matthew to the Dinton stock, a conclusion 

28 Many years ago there was issued by the late Jonathan Mayhew of 
Buffalo, N. Y., a pictorial "family tree" which has, erroneously, depicted 
on it the coat armor of the Mayhews of Hemingston, Suffolk. 

19 



which seems reasonable to be made in the affirmative from all 
the collateral facts. It is to be observed that the name of 
Simon Mayhew, which appears at the head of the tabular 
pedigree, was used by the Martha's Vineyard family as early as 
1687, which may be classed as additional corroborative testi- 
mony. Unfortunately the parish registers of Chilmark are 
missing prior to 1653, and although Bishops' transcripts exist 
in the Diocesan Registry at the Salisbury Cathedral, 'Our 
Lady Church of Sarum,' they contain no Mayhew entires. 29 
A branch of the Dinton family, represented by Walter, the 
fourth son of Robert of Dinton, lived in Chilmark, which is 
the next parish to Tisbury and nearer Dinton. Walter Mayhew 
'de Chilmark, gentleman' made his will Aug. 30, 1604, which 
was proven Dec. 24, 1606, and in it he makes a bequest to the 
poor of Fountell (Fonthill) where his elder brother Edward 




S] \L USED BY GOVERNOR MAYHEW 

From the Connecticut Archives. 

resided. 30 No references to Tisbury or relatives outside of 
his family appear (Arch. Sarum, Rotula XV)." 

''John Mayhew of Dinton, however, the eldest son of that 
generation, in his will dated Sept. 20, 1562, bequeaths a small 
sum 'to the Church of Tisbury,' besides to his own church 

29 The Dinton Parish Registers are extant from 1558, but contain no 
entries which throw light upon Thomas, the third son of Robert. 

30 The adjoining parish of Chilmark, disclosed some early Macy stones 
in the churchyard. It will be remembered that Thomas Macy of Nan- 
tucket, who is said to have been of Chilmark, referred to Thomas Mayhew 
of Martha's Vineyard as "my honored cousin" (N. Y. Col. MSS.. Vol. 
XXV), and while searching for Mayhew wills, I accidentally found the 
will of Thomas Maycie of Chilmark. dated 1575. which may serve as the 
basis of some future investigations concerning that well-known family, 
whose emigrant ancestor first settled in Salisbury, Massachusetts. 

20 



and the Cathedral at Salisbury (Arch. Sarum. IV, 165), which 
may be taken as showing some interest or connection with 
that parish. 

"All the evidence adduced, by inference and exclusion seems 
to favor the Tisbury family as the one to which Governor 
Mayhew belongs, and that the Tisbury branch belongs to the 
Dinton stock seems equally presumptive. The line of Mat- 
thew's parentage probably sprung off before the Dinton stock 
had their pedigree registered in 1565, and it is also fair to 
presume that Simon, who heads it, had more than one son. 
With the exception of Matthew many of the names of sons 
in the Tisbury and Dinton families are nearly identical, John, 
Thomas, Henry, Edward. 31 

"In the Mayow arms sea mews are engraved for the birds, 
which in the authorities quoted are given as 'birds.' It will 
be noticed that the arms described on the tabular pedigree 
have a crescent for difference, indicating their use at the time 
of the visitation (1565) by a second son, probably Edward, 
son of Robert. Thomas, the younger brother would have 
used the mullet for difference. The use of the mullet by Gov. 
Thomas Mayhew, indicating his descent from a third son of 
the Mayow family of Dinton, taken with the other evidence 
presented, leads to the belief that the Thomas who was buried 
at Tisbury in 1590, was father of Matthew, grandfather of 
Gov. Thomas, and son of Robert. 32 

"It now remains to turn to the maternal ancestry of Governor 
Mayhew, the Barters of Wiltshire, of whom Alice, as we have 
seen, married Matthew Maow in 1587. While the author 33 
cannot with equal satisfaction designate beyond doubt the 
particular branch to which she belonged, yet the following will 

31 The Mayhews of Dinton were Roman Catholics, and according to a 
recent authority, had in those days suffered for their attachment to that 
faith. An Edward, born at Dinton, 1570, became a Benedictine monk, 
and with his brother Henry was admitted to the English College at Douay 
in 1583, and later they matriculated at the English College, Rome, 1590 
(Stephen, Diet. Nat. Biog. Art. Maihew). He died in 1625. It is prob- 
able that he was the son of Henry, and was baptized at Dinton, November 
12, 1571. In those days of religious ostracism and persecution, when the 
Puritan movement was growing in strength, it is possible that the branch 
to which Governor Mayhew belonged became Protestant, and thus lost 
association with and recognition by the parent stock. 

32 This account of the Tisbury family is condensed from an article in the 
Genealogical Advertiser, prepared by the author for that publication (Vol. 
IV. pp. 1-8). 

33 Banks: History of Martha's Vineyard, I, 112-113. 

21 



indicate her probable parentage and the tabular pedigree 
illustrates it: 

Barter 

James Barter = Margaret 

of Fovent, 
Wilts. 



Edward Barter = Edith Roger 

(eldest son) Thomas 

of Fydleton, Christian 

Haxton, Wilts. 



William Joan Alice Christian Edward Ellyn Harry John 

"The will of James Barter of Fovent, Wilts, is dated Sept. 1 
1565, and in it he mentions among others his eldest son Edward 
and his daughter (in law) Edith, wife of Edward (Arch. Sarum, 
P. C. C.,IV, 210). 

"The will of Edward Barter, his son, of Haxton, Wilts, of 
the Parish of Fydleton, is dated Oct. 6, 1574, and mentions 
among others, his wife Edith and his daughter Alice. (Arch. 
Sarum,P.C.C.,V,231.) 

"The will of Edith Barter, widow, of the same parish, is 
dated Aug. 9, 1576, and mentions among others her daughter 
Alice to whom she gave 'halfe an aker of wheat and half an 
aker of barley my best cowlett, my white pety coat, my kercher, 
my canvas apron a platter and porringer' (Arch. Sarum, P. 
C.C.,V,273). 

"As this Alice was the only one found by the author in his 
searches among Wilshire wills, and as the name of Edward 
was bestowed on the third son of Matthew and Alice, pre- 
sumably in honor of her father, as Thomas had been given in 
memory of his father, this origin of Alice Barter, the mother 
of Thomas Mayhew, is offered as the probable solution of the 
question of her ancestry. 

"Of the childhood, education, and early business training of 
Thomas Mayhew of Tisbury, nothing definite has come to the 
knowledge of the author. It is presumed that he lived in 
Tisbury during his youth, and was educated in the parish 
school under the care of his parents. When his father died, 
he was twenty-one years of age, and it is certain that this event 
placed upon him the necessity of individual responsibility for 

22 



the future. We know that he become a merchant, but where 
he served his apprenticeship is unknown. Daniel Gookin, who 
knew him personally, says he was 'a merchant bred in England, 
as I take it at Southampton!.' This seaport town was, in 
that period, one of the most important commercial centres in 
as I take it at Southampton!.' This seaport town was, in 
that period, one of the most important commercial centres 
England, ranking with Bristol as secondary to the great port 
of London. Like all merchants of the maritime ports, he 
naturally became cognizant of and interested in foreign trade, 
and as the colonization ventures of the established mercantile 
companies began to develop, he must have learned of the 
possibilities of profitable traffic beyond seas. Among the great 
merchants of London, Mr. Matthew Cradock was an early 
adventurer in this line of business, and was among the first 
to support the companies engaged in the colonization of New 
England. In the course of business it is to be supposed that 
every suburban merchant in England went to London often 
to have dealings with the large wholesale houses in the capital, 
and in that way we may suppose Mayhew became known to 
Cradock and thus laid the foundation of their business relations 
in later years. In 1625, at the accession of Charles the First, 
Thomas 34 Mayhew was thirty-two years of age and had been 
engaged in business for himself in all probability for about a 
dozen years, since the death of his father. During that period 
he had married, about 1619, and family traditions and a record 
of some antiquity brings down to us the name of the bride of 
his youth as Abigail Parkus. 35 Further particularization has 
been given to this tradition by making her a daughter of that 
Parkhurst family of which George Parkhurst of Watertown, 
Mass., 1643, was the first New England representative. George 
was the son of John Parkhurst of Ipswich, England, a clothier, 
and his sisters, Deborah and Elizabeth, came to this country 
with him, and were later residents of the Vineyard, the former 
as wife of John Smith and the latter of Joseph Merry. So 

34 Banks: History of Martha's Vineyard, I, 113, 114, 115. 

35 This is from a memorandum, genealogical in its character, prepared 
by Deacon William Mayhew, of Edgartown, who was born in 1748, and 
was thus within the sphere of close personal knowledge of his immediate 
ancestors. He was ten years old when Experience Mayhew, the great 
family exponent, died (1758), and Experience was about the same age when 
the old governor died, thus but one life spanned the gap between Thomas 
Senior and Deacon William. The memorandum was preserved by the 
Deacon's son, Thomas, and was in existence in 1854. 

23 



far no documentary or recorded confirmation of his marriage 
has come to light, and some considerable search has been made 
to find the probable place where the marriage took place, but 
without avail. The tradition is given for what it is worth. 

"The fruit of this first marriage of Thomas Mayhew was a 
son who was christened by the name of his father, about 1618, 
and living to man's estate became the famous missionary to 
our Indians on the Vineyard. 36 No other children are known, 
nor when and where the mother died. We are at present left 
to conjucture as to the whereabouts of the father, as well as 
his family, and not until 1628 do we find a further possible 
reference to him. The Company of the Massachusetts Bay 
were then actively promoting their new settlements at Salem 
and vicinity, and sending supplies thither. Their records at 
this time contain the following entry, showing that Thomas 
Mayhew was then engaged in mercantile pursuits: 

16 March 1628. 
Bespoke of Mr. Maio at 10' p yrd for beds & boulsters 20 bed tikes. 
Scotch Tikeing i broad & 2, 1 ,., long & H yrds wide: 11 yrds each bed and 
boulster. Mass. Col. Records, I, 35. 

"In two years more Mayhew had determined to follow to 
New England for the 'beds & boulsters' and 'bed tikes' he had 
sold for the emigrants to the latest English colony."" 

Thomas Mayhew the elder, of England, presumably taking 
with him his wife and one son, had established his residence at 
Medford, Massachusetts, as agent of Matthew Cradock. He 
lived in a "greate stone house," built by his employer whose 
business interests in Massachusetts were of large financial 
magnitude. Edward Johnson in his "Wonder-Working Provi- 
dence (1654)" thus refers in some contemporaneous poetry 
to the relationship between Cradock and Mayhew: 

The richest Jems and painfull things most Merchants wisely venter: 
' Deride not then New England men, this Corporation enter: 

' Christ calls for Trade shall never fade, come Cradock factors .-end : 

Let Mayhew go another move, spare not thy Coyne to spend 
' Such Trades advance and never chance in all their Trading yet: 

Though some deride they lose, abide, here's gaine beyond mans wit." 

3,; The author has made extensive searches in all published parish regis- 
ters of English churches and similar books, for any clue to his baptism or 
any reference to Thomas Mayhew. The following items are here printed, 
and may be of some value. Thomas Mayhowe, baptized August 20, 1617, 
at St. "Martins in the Fields, London." The will of Mildred Read of 
Linkenhurst, Co. Hants, widow, dated August 15, 1630, mentions her nephew 
"Thomas Mayhew the younger." 

27 Banks: History of Martha's Vineyard, I, 115, 116. 

24 




THE "GREATE STONE HOUSE," MEDFORD. BUILT FOR MATTHEW CRADDOCK, 
1631, AND OCCUPIED BY THOMAS MAYHEW 



25 



Mayhew's residence continued in Medford for the ensuing 
five years, and during this time his personal business interests, 
largely investments in mills, and his duties as factor of Cradock, 
became hopelessly involved, more through misfortune than 
breach of trust. Cradock despatched a new factor in the 
person of John Jolliff e and the termination of Mayhew's business 
relations with the London merchant immediately followed. 
In 1637 he became a resident of Watertown, was elected a 
Deputy to the General Court, and appointed a local magistrate 
for trying small causes; he also served as selectman through the 
years 1638-1644, and Deputy to the General Court for the 
same period, thus indicating that his financial difficulties had 
not lessened the esteem in which he was held by his fellow 
townsmen. 

This brings us to the time of his probable departure from 
Watertown to the island home where his declining years were 
spent. He probably removed to the Vineyard in the spring or 
summer of 1645 — four years after their acquisition. 

"When brought to New England by his father in 1631, the 
younger Mayhew was about ten years old, and for the dozen 
ensuing years intervening between that and his majority he 
can be pictured as attending the village schools of Medford 
from 1631 to 1635, and at Watertown from the time his father 
removed there till he had finished with the common branches 
taught in the primary and grammar schools. Nothing in 
contemporary accounts of him indicates that he was 'designed' 
for the profession of theology, or that he was to become a 
religious teacher. That this was his natural leaning appears 
evident from later developments, and he was given special 
instruction in languages, at least, after he had finished with 
the public schools. He was 'tutored up,' states Edward 38 
Johnson, an author of that period, from which we infer not a 
college education, but private instructors. 31 ' The Rev. Thomas 
Prince says on this topic: 

"He was a young Gentleman of liberal Education, and of such Repute 
for piety as well as natural and acquired Gifts, having no small Degree 
of Knowledge in the Latin and Greek Languages, and being not wholly a 
Stranger to the Hebrew." 1 " 



Hanks: History of Martha's Vineyard, I, 127. 
1 Wonder Working Providence. 
40 Indian Converts, 280. 

26 



"Doubtless he found time or made the opportunity, while 
assisting his father, to study evenings with tutors. His usual 
occupation we may assume was assistant to his father in the 
management of the mill and farm at Watertown, and other 
enterprises in which the elder was engaged. The turning point 
in his career, however, was the purchase of this island in 1641, 
just after the young man had entered his majority, and his 
assumption, in 1642, of the charge of this venture as one of the 
patentees. Being thus related to the proprietorship of the 
soil and the management of its temporal affairs, he was the 
leader of the small band of his Watertown neighbors who came 
hither that year, and for the following four years, until the 
father finally came, he was the local governor of the new settle- 
ment. At this time he was still a bachelor and we have no 
means of knowing what were his domestic associations during 
that period, but when in 1646 the elder Thomas came with 
his family he made his home with them. With them, as we 
know, came the step-daughter, Jane Paine, and in the following 
year he made her his bride." 41 

It is to be remembered that Martha's Vineyard belonged 
to no chartered province as then established by royal patent 
excepting its relation as an integral part of the territorial 
grants to Sir Ferdinando Gorges. For over a score of years 
May hew never, as far as is known, made any acknowledgment 
of this technical relationship to the Province of Maine, and 
Martha's Vineyard continued to be what it was in fact — an 
independent, self-governing entity. 

May hew could say with much truth: 

"I am monarch of all I survey, 
My right there is none to dispute." 

This anomalous political situation was due primarily to the 
death of Sir Ferdinando Gorges in 1647, the governmental 
distractions consequent upon the Civil War in England, the 
usurpation of the proprietary interests of Gorges in Maine by 
the government of the Massachusetts Bay Colony for the 
following thirteen years. 

"Banks: History of Martha's Vineyard. I, 127, 128. 



27 




THE DCKE OF YORK, LORD PROPRIETOR OF MARTHA S VINEYARD 



28 



SALE OF THE ISLANDS TO THE DUKE OP YORK IN 1663 

Meanwhile another factor was entering the field of colonial 
enterprise and management, it being none other than a scion 
of the royal house of Stuart — James, Duke of York, who 
entered into negotiations in 1663 for the purchase of the Stirling 
Patents. This having been accomplished, his elder brother, 
then Charles the Second, granted to the Duke of York on 
March 12, 1664-5, a Patent covering the territory of New 
York, Pemaquid (Maine), Lond Island "and allsoe all those 
severall Islands called or known by the names of Martin's 
Vineyard and Nantukes otherwise Nantukett." As far as 
known Gorges interest in these islands was not bought by the 
Duke of York and no attempt seems to have been made to 
revive it. The establishment of the Duke's government in 
New York resulted in the absorption of the Mayhew properties 
into this new and strange overlordship. Francis Lovelace, 
the first governor of the Duke's province, summoned Mayhew 
to Fort James in May, 1670, "to consult about those Parts and 
their settlem(en)t" and he was required to show his title to 
the Vineyard and "to bring all his Patents, Writings and Papers 
relating hereunto with him." Mayhew delayed a year before 
responding to these summons, probably waiting for something 
to turn up in political affairs which would remove this unex- 
pected complication. 

For thirty years, since 1641, he had been responsible to none, 
and now he was facing a crisis in his affairs at the summons of 
a new master set in authority over him by his "dread Sovereign 
Lord," Charles, the King. The conference between Governor 
Lovelace of New York and Thomas Mayhew of Martha's 
Vineyard, began July 6, 1671, and continued through the six 
following days, the former representing Roman Catholic 
rovalty, and the other a product of the Protestant Reformation. 
The Puritan emerged from the conference with this Popish 
master under flying colors. He not only was commissioned 
as Governor of Martha's Vineyard "dureing his natural life," 
a royal honor conferred upon him in his eightieth year, but 
brought home with him the added honor of appointment as 
Chief Justice of the Courts of Martha's Vineyard and Nan- 
tucket, and a title hitherto unknown in the colonial annals 
of England— Lord of the Manor of Tisbury. 



29 




THE PROVINCIAL HOUSE, NEW YORK, WHERE THE CONFERENCE WAS HELD 



30 



THE CREATION OF THE MANOR OF TISBURY 

At four score years the thoughts of the elder Mayhew had 
doubtless turned' to the place of his birth, and the scenes of 
his boyhood days, as he discussed with Lovelace the favors 
which he wished to secure from the Duke of York. Mayhew 
had risen to an unique position among his colonial confreres, 
and the recollections of the Tisbury in "Merrie England" 
with its manor house and tithe barn aroused within him a desire 
to become the first of a line of Lords of the Manor in another 
and younger Tisbury in this new-found world. He recalled 
the Arundels of Wardour, hereditary lords of Tisbury Manor 
in Wiltshire, living but a short distance from his childhood 
home, and the grandeur of their position, holding dominion 
over broad green acres, with tenants filling the tithe lofts to 
overflowing each harvest as willing acknowledgment of their 
fealty in lieu of knightly service. He now wished the legitimate 
fruit's of his own headship made distinctive and hereditary. 
Lovelace consented to the creation of a manorial demesne on 
the Puritan Vineyard under the noses of the Dissenters of 
Massachusetts, doubtless as an admonition that the days of 
Cromwell and his fanatics had passed, and that the good old 
customs of "Merrie England'' with its county families and 
loyal tenantry would be restored to their wonted position. 

"The following is a copy of the 'Patent or Confirmacon of 
Tisbury Mannor unto Mr. Thomas Mayhew & Mr. Matthew 
Mayhew his Grand Childe: — ' " 42 

Francis Lovelace Esq: one of the Gentlemen of his Ma' ties Hon'ble 
Privy Chamb'r and Governor Gen'll under his Royall Highness JAMES 
Duke of Yorke and Albany &c of all his Territories in America: To all to 
whom these Presents shall come sendeth Greetings: 

Whereas there is a certaine Island within these his Royall Highness his 
Territoryes in Length over against the Maine neare East and West & being 
to the North West of the Island Nantuckett wch said Island was hereto- 
fore Granted unto Thomas Mayhew Sen'r & Thomas Mayhew Jun'r his 
Sonn by James Forret Agent to William Earle of Sterling in whom the 
Government then was a considerable part or Severall parcells ov wch said 
Island hath by the said Thomas Sen'r & Thomas Mayhew Jun'r his Son 
been purchased of the Indian Proprietors & due satisfaction given for the 
same whereof for diverse Years past they have been & still are in quiet & 
Lawfll Possession the Particulars of which said Parcells of Land are as 
hereafter is sett forth vizt That is to say a Certaine Piece of Land called 
Chickemote bounded on the East by a Spring called by the Name of Kutta- 
shimmoo on the West by a Brooke called Each-poo-qua-sitt on the North 

42 Banks: History of Martha's Vineyard, II, Annals of Chilmark, p. 18. 

31 



by the Sound & on the South by the bounds of Ta-kem-my: An other 
Parcell of Land called Keep-hickon Bounded on the East by the Wester- 
most Hounds of Takemmy from whence it extendeth about a Mile and 
halfe Westward along the Sound wch is the North Bounds, and to the South 
reaching to the middle of the Island. Then a piece of Land called Quia- 
names Hounded on the East by Takemmy Pond on the West by Nasho- 
wakemmuck Pond & a foot Path wch Goeth from the said Pond to a Brooke 
called by the Name of Tyas-quin wch Brooke is its North Bounds: As also 
the Land called Nashowa-Kemmuck Sold to Thomas Mayhew Jun'r be- 
ginning at a Place called Wakachakoyck & goeth to the River Arkessah. 
running from the said Wakachakoyck by a straight Line to the middle of 
the Island where is the middle Line that divides the Land of Towtoe and 
others & the Land sold to the said Thomas Mayhew and from the Place 
that Line meeteth the middle Lyne soe dividing the Land as aforesaid to 
goe to the Harbour on the North side of the Island called Wawattick: 
Together with two of the Elizabeth Islands called Kataymuck & Nan- 
name-sitt & other Severall Small & Inconsiderable Islands in Monument 
Bay: NOW for a Confirmacon unto the Said Thomas Mayhew Sen'r & 
Matthew Mayhew his Grand Childe the Son & Heyre of Thomas Mayhew 
Jun'r in their Possession &: enjoymt of the Premises KNOW YE that by 
Vertue of the Commission and Authority unto mee given by his Royall 
Highness upon whom (as well by the resignacon & Assignmt of the Heyres 
of the said Wm Earle of Sterling as also by Graunt & Patent from his 
Royall Majestye CHARLES the second) the Propriety & Government of 
Long Island Martins Vineyard Nantuckett & alltthe Islands adjacent 
amongst other things is settled, I have Given and Granted & by these 
Presents doe hereby Give Ratify Confirme & Graunt unto the said Thomas 
Mayhew & Matthew Mayhew his Grand Childe their Heyres & all the 
aforementioned Pieces & Parcells of Land Islands & Premises to bee 
Erected into a Mannor & for the future to be called & knowne by the 
name of TYSBURY MANNOR Together with all the Lands Islands Soyles 
Woods Meadowes Pastures Quarrys Mines Mineralls (Royal Mines ex- 
cepted) Marshes Lakes Waters Fishing Hawking Hunting & Fowling 
witnin the Bounds & Lymitts afore described And all other Profitts Co- 
modityes Emoluments & Hereditamts thereunto belonging or in any wise 
appertaining To bee holden according to the Customs of the Mannor of 
East Greenwch in the County of Kent in England in free & comon Soc- 
cage & by Fealty only: And the said Mannor of Tisbury shall be held 
I >eemed reputed taken & bee an Entire Enfranchized Mannor of itselfe &* 
shall alhvayes from time to time have hold & Enjoy like & equal Privi- 
ledges wch other Mannors witnin the Governmt & shall in noe manner or 
any wise bee under the Rule Order or Direction of any other place but in 
all Mattrs of Governmt shall be Ruled Ordered & Directed according to 
the Instructions I have already given for that Island in Generall or here- 
after shall give for the Good and Wellfare of the Inhabitants by the Advice 
of my Councell: To have and to hold the said Mannor with the Lands 
thereunto belonging with all & Singular the Appertenances & prmisses 
unto the said Thomas Mayhew & Matthew Mayhew their Heyres and 
A— iu'iK-^ to the Proper use and behoofe of the said Thomas Mayhew and 
Matthew Mayhew their Heyres & Assignes forever Yielding Rendring & 
Paying therefore Yearly & every Yeare unto his Royall Highness the 
Duke of Yorke his Heyres & Assignes or unto such Governor or Governors 
as from time to time shall bee by him Constituted & Appointed as an 

32 



Acknowledgment two Barrells of Good Merchantable Cod-Fish to be 
Delivered at the Bridge in this City. 

Given under my Hand and Sealed with my Seale & with the Seale of the 
Province at Forte James in New York on the Island of Manhattans this 
eighth day of July in the three and twentyeth yeare of the Reigne of our 
Sovereigne Lord CHARLES the Second by the Grace of God of England 
Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith &c & in the 
yeare of our Lord God One Thousand six hundred seaventy & one. 

"It will be thus seen that practically the whole of the present 
town of Chilmark with the district of Chickemmoo, now in 
Tisbury, and the Elizabeth Islands were erected into a Manor, 
like unto the ancient form known in England, and the elder 
Mayhew and his grandson (Matthew) were created joint Lords 
of the Manor of Tisbury" 43 with succession to their heirs 
male. 

"As may be imagined, this transplanted form of manorial 
government with its suggestion of "lords" and tenantry and 
"acknowledgments" was not favorably received by the people 
in the adjoining towns. It gave them an insight into what 
would occur if the ideas were carried out to their logical se- 
quence. But Mayhew proceeded with his plans for an exclusive 
domain which should be separate from all the rest of the settle- 
ments on the Vineyard. Very early he had surrounded a part 
of this territory with a fence, and the name of one of his divi- 
sions, Kuppi-egon, or Kupegon, meaning an artificial enclosure, 
is a survival of this fact. Simon Athearn gives us a com- 
mentary on the situation, which doubtless voiced the senti- 
ments of the settlers, when he said that they 'have impropriated 
a Cuntery by a fenc to themselves' and again referring to the 
same subject in describing Chilmark: 'This included land is 
considered un settled but is in propr(ie)ty by a fenc made a 
Cross the Hand by the people of Chilmark and Chilmark is 
fenced by the same under their peculiar improvement,' " 44 

"In the management of the Manor granted to the Mayhews, 
they alienated portions of the soil, but retained the 'acknowledg- 
ment' of certain annual, or more frequent, payment of trifles 
to signify their manorial privileges. During the lifetime of 
the elder Mayhew none of the manor was alienated, except 
two pieces in the Quansoo region, to his grandsons John and 
Thomas Mayhew, and it is not known that he demanded any 
quit-rents from them. In a sale of a part of the Elizabeth 

43 Banks: History of Martha's Vineyard, II, Annals of Chilmark, p. 20. 

44 Banks: History of Martini's Vineyard, II, Annals of Chilmark, p. 22-3. 



Islands, however, he instituted the custom of requiring quit- 
rents, and the first case was that of John Haynes, who agreed 
to pay "2 good sheep at the Manor House on November 15th 
yearly and every year.' 45 It is not known where the 'Manor 
House' was, if it existed in anything more than name. Pos- 
sibly it was the house occupied by John Mayhew at Quansoo, 
or Quanames. After his death, Matthew Mayhew, as surviv- 
ing patentee, kept to the custom of requiring the annual pay- 
ments of such 'acknowledgments' in true English style. Usu- 
ally in the mother country the quit-rent was 'a good fat capon,' 
to be delivered at Christmas or Whitsuntide, or oftener, but 
Mayhew varied his requirements to all sorts of small articles. 
One was obliged to bring annually to him 'a good chees;' 46 
another 'one nutmegg' as a tribute, 47 and he required 'his 
beloved brother John,' who was permitted to occupy certain 
land, 'one mink skin' to be paid yearly 'at my mannor house 
in the mannor of Tisbury,' on the 15th of November each 
year. 48 Benjamin Skiffe was made to bring 'six peckes of 
good wheat,' annually. 41 * As late as 1732, Sarah, widow of 
Thomas Mayhew (3), in a deed to her two daughters conveying 
land in Chilmark, referred to the 'Quitt-rents which shall 
hereafter become due unto the Lord of the Manner .... 
which is one Lamb." 50 

Opposition to this grafting of manorial privileges and dignities 
on the simple life of the Vineyard farmers extended to the 
point of rebellion, led by Simon Athearn, with a dozen or more 
who thought with him that New England was no place for 
such an institution, and saw no need of a governor holding 
position for life. They demanded his abdication of this office 
and refused acknowledgment of his lordship. Arrests, fines 
and imprisonments followed and for a while turmoil ensued, 
but with the Charter of Massachusetts Bay, dated October 7, 
1691, providing for the jurisdiction of that colony over the 
present territory of Massachusetts "together with the Isles 
of Capawick and Nantuckett near Cape Cod," the source of 
power and influence of the Mayhews waned, and the days of 
their life tenures and manorial privileges ended. 

45 Dukes Deeds, I, 45. 
K Ibid., 1,346. 
47 Ibid., I, 265. 
iS Ibid., 1,27. 
* 9 Ibid., I, 118. 

50 Ibid., VI, 56; Banks: History of Martha's Vineyard. II, Annals of Chil- 
mark, p. 21-22. 

34 










m l 




: /TDNATHAN MAYHEW,DD-plSTOiy)P"THE WEST CHVRCH 
EN BOSTON, IN NEW ENGLAND^AN ASSERTOR OF THE OVR 
AND RELIGIOYS LIBERTIES 0FHtf||COyNTRYAST> ^lANETND, 
WHO, OVERPIIED W PYBLIC ENERGIRM)IED OE ANEKTOVS FEVER, 

rvLX >mAfl)ccbxn, aged sxxxyTTS* 



Willi 



GREAT GREAT GRANDSON OF THOMAS MAYHEW 

"The transendent genius of his day who threw all the weight of his great fame 
into the scale of his Country." 

(John Adams) 

"He was the father of civil and religious liberty in Massachusetts and New 

England." 

(Robert Treat Paine) 

35 



The Mayhews engaged in a contest against this transfei 
of their allegiance in which they were abetted by the New 
York authorities but it was a losing fight. Tenants continued 
to pay their nutmegs, cheeses, mink-skins, lambs and wheat as 
quit-rents for a generation, more as a means of retaining their 
titles than as acknowledgment of manorial rights. The grand 
dreams of the Wiltshire yeoman to re-establish in New England 
t he social precedence of his branch of the armigerous Mayhews 
of Old England, begun under the most favorable of royal 
auspices, led a hectic existence, and gradually became an 
object of ridicule in the next century. In the Vineyard records 
reservations in title were made with respect to persons pre- 
tending to exercise manorial rights but it is not known how 
long these pretensions were effectively enforced. They are 
not referred to after 1756 when the Proprietors of Tisbury 
recorded their protest against this continuance in the following 
language: "Whereas sundry Persons have of late years Pre- 
sumed to sett themselves up Lord Proprietors of Land in sd 
Tisbury in Defiance & Contempt of said Pattent and thereby 
caused great Disturbance in sd Town both to the Church and 
state and Expense of much money & Pretious Time," the 
townsmen voted to consider and address the Governor and 
Council of New York regarding the persons who were "the 
Cheefe Carryers on of the Disturbance." 

Notwithstanding these continued rebuffs it is believed that 
the later line of the Mayhews continued to preserve this pleas- 
ant fiction of their manorial rights up to the time of the Revolu- 
tion, when all existing claims to social caste went into the 
discard, with the signing of the Declaration of Independence. 

The line of male descent of this family is now represented, 
as hereditary lord, by Mr. George Pickering Mayhew of Hart- 
ford, Connecticut. 

Note. All the illustrations of this monograph are published by permis- 
sion of the author of Martha's Vineyard. 



36 



